The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-02
PRImARIRs PREFERRED To CON
VERTIONs.

WV bOuANOo bhOAO SChAoo -
earnest protest from Democrats against
the mass convention system and in
favor OF primaries. The Oxford Eagle,
while admi ting that undoubtedly
there are some objections to aprimary
election, yet believes that II the people
will meet each other in the right spirit
the adoption Of the primary plan will
be the most satisfactory in its results.
"The candidates." 1t says, Seem to
want it, for what candidate is afraid of
the peoplet And what candidate
wants to get into Office by any better
means than the vote OF the people ?
None who have any strength with the
people. This voters pretty generally
want a primary because they are
tired OF the crooked ways OF the
convention plan. The people
think they are capable OF nomi-
mating their officials without the
aid OF wire pullers and the few
who are generally ready to take up
somebody the people do not want and
put him In by ways that are never un-
derstood but generally regarded as I'M
fair. The people do not want the ma.
chine this time. They are tired Of it.
They do not want a hybrid primary,
either, sort Of election with con-
vention to come next and the ma
chine to run the convention. They
want a straight out primary and for
all the Offices to be voted for" The
Psducah Netrs takes much the same
view aud furnishes in support OF 1.-THE
result OF the primaries and mass con-
ventions held throughout Kentucky
on the 23d nltimo. That paper says
that wherever mass conven
tions were held there sis
some sort of dissatisfaction and
more or less confusion. It can
not be said, either, that there are not
and have not always bean good
grounds for the grumbling that is
done about mass conventions. A few
men often override the known senti-
ments OF O whole county, city or dis
trlct. There is no need OF going away
from this county for the proofs, but
Louisville was worse. Thirty.two
hundred votes in Paducah and Nc
Oracken county were represented by
200. This made 1t possible for one or
two precincts in the city, represented
by the loudest howlers, TO defeat the
real wishes Of majority Of the voters.
II 1t had been primary election il
cannot be supposed that only
200 men would have felt inter-
ested in the selection OF candidates
for the most important State Off ices.
In that case men would not have
been required to come from five to
twenty miles to the county seat to ex.
press their wishes, but would have
gone to their precinct voting places
and expressed their choice. Besides
in this case all the candidates would
have baen voted for, whereas no man
can determine just who this county
prefers for several OF the Offices" This,
the News thinks, ought to Influence
the State Convention to make some
provision for more satisfactory way
Of reaching the public verdict and 30
curing fair and full vote for nomi
nees. But even the primaries have, In
some instances, proven failures. The
wife worker can "get his work in
there as we'll ~ in convention, no
because Of superior tact or manage
ment, but because the people do no
pay attention and leave an easy wa!
open for those who make business o
politics to carry their point. Tn
blame rests with the people, aud the,
must find way to remedy the wrong
complained Of.
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